Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-13

reach, and he knew enough 10 feel sure
that even had there been no skill or
care could save him. They would never
quarrel again, these two; they had done
so regularly about once week, and no
one wonld have suspected from MEG
donald's dry reserved ways and caustic
severity of speech that he loved this
"feckless. reckless Murdoch like his
wn,brother.
He was beginning 10 hope that
sleep--donied all night long-might
come at last, when Murdoch turned his
head YEARLY and opened his eyes.
Elm that tired, Mac | shall be
glad when it's over"
II was the first word of complaint he
had uttered. Macdonald had not
broken down before, but he felt near it
now. lie felt the sob rising in his
throat as he murmured something in
coherent about the impossibility Of get
ling doctor.
Don't worry about that, Mac.
Why, bless you, he'd. only bother me
and not bc able to do any good. II l
ON to get better, shall get on all right
alone; il not, what's the good of being
pulled about Thank you, old fell
low"
Macdonald had risen and changed his
pillows end was bathing his forehead,
looking with vague trouble into the
sunken dark eyes.
"All right, Mac; I know that I'm
done for-Tve no hopes of being
patched up again. Only don't you
fret. What is it ?"
One Of the stockmen had come to
the half-open door and was reckoning
to Macdonald, who went out softly,
closing il behind him.
"Well?"
ats Black Bill-that there queer
cove from the bush. Reckon he's gone
crazy-like. He's been sitting there in
the doorway the last three hours and
won't 90 away. Came down this
morning wanted to know how the
boss was-says we're to tell him as
soon as he's any better"
Macdonald went down and found him
seated there, sullen, slodching, defiant,
in outward seeming-knees crossed and
arms folded-no life about him save in
the dull CLEAN Of his black eyes under
their lowering brows. He rose slowly
and touched his hat
E" Amt he no better yet?"
"Don't you know" said Macdonald,
irritable with the impotence of sup
pressed pain, "that he'll never be any
better in this world ?"
A troubled look came into the mans
wild eyes.
81 thought it would be afore sun
down, " he muttered. Don't YOU be-
lieve it, sir; he amt a-goin' to die-nO,
no-not he!"
He sat down again, settling back into
his old look of logged patience. Mac
donald, finding it useless TO say any
thing to him, went quietly back, and
took up his post again beside Murdoch.
"What was it, Mac? ANY one want
ing you?"
:" 1t was Bill Adamson, from the huts
beyond the creek. He was wanting to
know how you We're"
"Elack Bill? Poor old chap You
didn't send him away, did you? 'Id
like to see him again.
"Can you bear it, Murdoch?"
"Why not? DO let him come up.
Macdonald went down again, and
found him still motionless in the same
position He touched him on the
| .houldor.
"AGamson, viii you come up lie
wants 20 see you.
The mans whole face lighted UP.
"Theb boss? May ~"
he rose at once to follow-then he
suddenly stopped and carefully drew
off his heavy boots
Ibid he say he wanted to see me
"Yos.'
lie spoke not another word, but went
into the room with Macdonald, and
stood awkwardly at the foot of the bed,
scarcely daring to lift his eyes to the
changed white face with the hollow
temples and drawn bps. a
"Well, old fellow. I'm awfully glad
TO see You. just leave us a little, viii
You, Mac"
And Macdonald left them together.
He looked up, twisted his fingers
hclplessly, scraped the floor with his
foot. and jerked out the words with a
kind of defiance:
"You won't die, boss know You
won't. I've made it all right l" 49,.
"What DO you mean? Come here
And he went nearer, and Lennox Muir
doch lifted his unwounded left arm and
loid # around his neck.
"Why, don't you know, boss -? They
said they'd take me instead OF you
and they won't go back on their word. =
81 don't understand. Tell me all
about it,
He raised himself-it must have cost
him fearful pain-with his old winning,
mischieyous smile, as if hewere nightly
amused at himself and the whole sltua-
ton, and laid his head down ON Bill
shoulder The great bushman wound
his rough arms tenderly round the
slight figure and asked instead OF al
swering:
docs it hurt you now
"No. not much account. Tell me
what YOU mean, dear old lad.
So he told him-slowly, IN broken,
awkward words, having to he helped
ont bv questions now and then-of the
black fellows burial place, and the mid
niqht incarnation, and how they haC
promised by the signo Of the falling star
And before he had ended the dying maj
was sobbing as if his heart would break
"Don't, sir; oh DON'T You'll hur
yourself, you will! " , =,
"Bil-dear, dear old Bill-how coull
YOU think of such thing? Oh, God
oh, God" ,
"My life for yours-mine amt wort
much, and what would We ever do with
out you?" -,
"Oh! but you mustnt-you musn9'
think of God in that way You-oh
what shall 1 say to you? You'll breal
my heartl" Ill,
Don't take on-dont. l dldn'
think it would have yexed we SO.
: wouldn't have told"
"Listen to me, now, and rememDe
, what say. Will you? " Bill nodded
: but did not speak. =" You mustn
think it's bad for me to die. Sell
, went away to Sydney you wouldn't b
! wanting to leave the sheep and ru